tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-263138542012-01-20T04:02:05.588-05:00(The Written Word Remains)Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.comBlogger431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-73883427065500759632007-10-24T14:47:00.000-04:002007-10-25T13:31:26.881-04:00

I'm often frustrated by the lack of selection in my local book shops. Sadly, my local book shops (Borders, Barnes & Noble) are your local book shops."If you want proof that a cultural divide separates Europe and America," the New York Times observes, "the book business is a place to start. In the United States chain stores have largely run neighborhood bookshops out of business. Here in Germany,

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-52045889171380078882007-10-22T20:39:00.000-04:002007-10-24T17:48:26.672-04:00

Here are two new publications worth reading:BYU Studies special issue on Mormons and Film. Mine arrived today. It includes a 100+ page History of Mormon Cinema and an article by Terryl Givens titled "'There is Room for Both': Mormon Cinema and the Paradoxes of Mormon Culture." In this article, Givens argues that Mormon film has come into its own to a large degree because of its engagement with

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-62357859303462316352007-09-26T19:39:00.000-04:002007-09-27T00:43:07.007-04:00

Washington, DC, is great for many reasons. These are two of them: the Arlington Library Book Sale on September 28 and the National Book Festival on September 29.

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1983403655722901372007-09-25T20:08:00.000-04:002007-09-25T20:09:08.708-04:00

Nasty Wiffle Pitcher - Watch more free videos

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-39481391430049595332007-09-14T00:03:00.000-04:002007-09-14T00:39:19.309-04:00

As you all know, I've had trouble getting our book group off the ground. But I haven't given up. This month I invite you to join me as I read two books on grief--The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion and A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis.Grief is a timely topic for our family. I don't think feelings of grief are limited to death and dying. I believe we experience shades of grief anytime

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-74961186869429273652007-09-13T18:02:00.000-04:002007-09-13T18:04:32.820-04:00

Thanks for many hours of happy reading!!

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1912524782252905792007-09-04T12:59:00.000-04:002007-09-04T15:33:01.916-04:00

On Sunday The Guardian published an interesting article asking 50 celebrated writers to nominate their favorite literary treasure--brilliant but underrated novels that deserve a second chance to shine.So I asked myself, "Of the novels I've read, which would I say is the most underrated?" My answer: Dead Souls by Nicolai Gogol. Flannery O'Connor declared Gogol "necessary along with the light." I

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-55126972948085562922007-07-31T08:34:00.000-04:002007-07-31T08:37:01.550-04:00

Today is my brother Chris' birthday. Please join me in wishing him a happy and healthy 29th!! Imagine the sound of trumpets and loud, wonderful music. That's how great it is to be 29!! 30 . . . that is another story.HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS!

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-26843367578676202432007-06-18T11:09:00.000-04:002007-08-19T22:22:57.230-04:00

OK, I made a mistake. Make that two mistakes. I picked a difficult first book and a terrible, filthy second book.To those that have been reading Demons, I'm sorry. This book is too long. I'm mired on page 600-something, and I'm still not sure what, if anything, is going on. Demons is no Crime and Punishment, which remains a personal favorite.To those that have purchased Absurdistan, I'm double

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-7337259209787117922007-06-12T23:56:00.000-04:002007-06-13T00:18:31.390-04:00

Occasionally, but not often enough, I stumble across something very special. Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan's opening address to the Sydney Writers' Festival, titled "The Power of Literature: The News That Stays News," is special indeed!! In it, states Ramona Koval of the Book Show, O'Hagan "argues that words and imagination are our great protectors. And when you hear what he has to say,

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-87912068400572363772007-06-11T20:11:00.000-04:002007-06-11T20:12:20.293-04:00

Today I found a cracked, eaten egg on the sidewalk. Our nest is empty.

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-83764608623648854972007-06-10T20:38:00.000-04:002007-06-11T00:39:01.706-04:00

Our family lives on the top floor of a three-story, walk-up apartment. Last week while returning home from work I glanced towards our apartment and noticed something on the ledge of our bedroom window. I couldn't make it out from below, so I walked inside our bedroom and cracked the blinds. From there I could see the beginnings of bird's nest--twigs and grass arranged in a circular pattern. The

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-9450895779716527912007-06-10T20:24:00.000-04:002007-06-10T20:25:12.404-04:00

Discussion forthcoming.

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-36802104510341421632007-05-05T00:18:00.000-04:002007-05-06T02:19:16.696-04:00

I would like to apologize for missing my first deadline of April 20. I will try to be better in the future. Without further ado, here is the first of what I hope will be many great discussions about books.We are reading Demons in three parts according to the following schedule:Part I - April 20Part II - May 11Part III - June 1In this post I will discuss Part I, pages 1-206 in the Vintage Classics

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-20326750430604158562007-04-17T23:06:00.000-04:002007-04-20T22:11:50.370-04:00

For those of you working to complete the first part of Demons before Friday, here are a few helps sent by Chantalle:http://community.middlebury.edu/~beyer/courses/previous/ru351/novels/devils/devil.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Possessed_(novel)http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jim_forest/pevear.htmPlease be warned that the above links contain information that may spoil the

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-43141455570605622692007-04-17T23:01:00.000-04:002007-04-20T22:12:22.526-04:00

A List of Characters from "Demons" by Fyodor Dostoevsky Russian names are composed of first name, patronymic (from the father’s first name), and family name. Formal address requires the use of first name and patronymic; diminutives are commonly used among family and intimate friends; a shortened form of the patronymic (e.g. Yegorych instead of Yegorovich), used only in speech, also suggests a

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-5598440095737228342007-04-14T20:10:00.000-04:002007-04-15T23:22:37.934-04:00

Grade: A"Though argument does not create conviction, lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced; but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish." -Austin FerrerIn By the Hand of Mormon, Terryl Givens examines why the Book of Mormon "has been taken

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-58581425573403751162007-04-09T16:53:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:05:18.116-04:00

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-58829661117535468272007-04-06T16:46:00.000-04:002007-04-11T10:58:41.660-04:00

For those who enjoy listening to podcasts, the NY Times has started a Book Review Podcast. Here's the link:http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/books/books-podcast-archive.html?ex=1333598400&en=f7886f115f398db8&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-44622593265335842222007-04-03T13:38:00.000-04:002007-04-11T10:58:57.270-04:00

Congratulations to Katie Davis! She dazzled us with her basketball acumen by winning this year's Blakesleague NCAA Tournament Pick 'em. Not only did she beat the men, proving that time watching basketball does not an expert make, but reliable sources tell me that she celebrated her victory by dancing like Joakim Noah:

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-59779933996598306342007-04-03T12:13:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:05:31.232-04:00

Lucas and Katie appeared on the front cover of today's Politico. Here is a photo, followed by links to the cover image and article on campaign fund raising: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0407/3406.htmlhttp://www.politico.com/pdf/frontapril3.pdf

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-38687840662835269382007-03-27T22:50:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:00:57.974-04:00

With all my talk about books, I thought it would be nice if we all read the same book at the same time, followed by an online discussion. With that in mind, I invite you to join me as I read the following books over the next several months, at the rate of one book every one to two months (depending on the size of the book), and according to the loose schedule indicated below:1. Demons by Fyodor

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-21866806762199264012007-03-22T23:21:00.000-04:002007-04-14T23:01:23.588-04:00

Grade: AThe New York Times named The Looming Tower one of the ten best books of 2006. I agree. This is a wonderful book that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone wishing to understand the making of Al-Qaeda and the events leading to September 11, 2001. But don't expect this book to recount the tale told through the news. Instead, Wright explains the philosophical origins of Al-Qaeda, the history

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-5465221265284772872007-03-16T00:19:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:02:19.343-04:00

10. They can't rebound!9. They can't defend!8. Austin Ainge shoots too much.7. Rose shoots too little.6. Plaisted can't make free throws.5. Plaisted jumps on every pump fake.4. Did I mention that they can't rebound?3. Or defend?2. Or that Austin Ainge shoots too much?1. He's no Danny: Austin Ainge, after watching repeated highlights of BYU's 1982 win against Notre Dame, does his best daddy

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-80440201068222547992007-03-13T17:09:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:03:50.115-04:00

Ok, here's a link to the best article on the tournament to date:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/blog/index?entryDate=20070312&name=simmons&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2Here are the highlights (with my comments in parentheses):1) Jeff Green is dynamite!! (Agreed)2) Rick Majerus: Funniest random moment: The "ESPN GameDay" producers deciding it would be a good idea to have Karl Ravech and Rick

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-61244180634945938802007-03-12T00:30:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:04:16.282-04:00

The NCAA Tournament has arrived, which means its time to toe the line and choose your winners. No matter your criteria for picking winners--record, skill, favorite players, alma mater, ticket holder, hatred, jersey color, or if you dated someone with that name (ala the year Amber's roommate won by choosing Kent State because she dated a guy named Kent)--You are hereby invited to join the

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-47979603317292096582007-03-12T00:27:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:04:52.554-04:00

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-61677895027462776182007-03-06T11:32:00.000-05:002007-04-11T11:06:15.449-04:00

I'd like to offer best wishes and a happy birthday to my cousin, friend, and fellow attorney Ian Davis. Today is also, coincidentally, the first birthday of his blog, Musing Ian. Happy Birthday!!

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-72398883049868034642007-03-03T17:22:00.000-05:002007-04-11T11:06:40.706-04:00

Readers have requested a photo of Flip Romney, the Dolphin from Massachusetts. Here he is in all his glory!

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-65378985655459341652007-03-02T21:18:00.000-05:002007-04-11T11:08:34.669-04:00

With my mother-in-law visiting from California, Katie and I decided to give her a true Washington experience--we went to hear Mitt Romney speak. This was my first involvement in anything political, and while it was interesting to observe the ultra-political do their thing, and fun to support Romney, the highlight was seeing Lucas meet a Presidential hopeful. Here is video to prove it:You can see

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-51461769045088465302007-03-02T21:13:00.000-05:002007-04-11T11:07:18.127-04:00

I vote Amber for best supporting actress. If Al Gore can win for a PowerPoint, this fine video is certainly worthy of an Oscar. Amber is the second girl on the couch, the one who hides behind a magazine. Amber: Who is ZANTAR, and what does ZANTAR mean?

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-34806161591578904422007-02-28T23:54:00.000-05:002007-04-11T11:07:57.955-04:00

A certain individual keeps reminding me to update my blog, otherwise I risk losing my readers. Therefore, in an effort to increase readership, here are photos of the cutest kid I know (yes, he's mine!):

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-10412788817793300102007-02-25T21:50:00.000-05:002007-04-14T23:01:54.142-04:00

Grade: A-I read The Chosen based on my wife Katie's recommendation. After reading the book in less than two days, I owe her a thank you and an apology. Katie, thank you for recommending a wonderful book. I apologize for calling it a 'kid's book,' and nearly refusing to read it. In lieu of a less-than-articulate description, I endorse the following statement from the Wall Street Journal: "Anyone

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1159846139572803222006-10-02T23:21:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:09:26.836-04:00

A few days back I teased my mother-in-law for watching soap operas on TV. She avenged my comments today by laughing hysterically as I described events from "The Office" to Katie. It is a soap opera disguised as a comedy. Since the arrival of our son, Lucas, Katie and I have watched very little television and did not see the first few episodes of The Office. So, after reading summaries of the new

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1150481188128413022006-06-16T13:51:00.000-04:002007-04-14T23:02:12.296-04:00

Grade: BIn The Brief History of the Dead, Kevin Brockmeier explores death as a form of insomnia--that the will and memory of the living can perpetuate the lives of the dead, and vice-versa. Brockmeier's simple plot alternates between two realms--earth (home to the living) and "the City" (home to the dead). In the City, the dead continue living as long as someone on earth still remembers them. But

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1149469749173465992006-06-04T20:31:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:10:25.742-04:00

Caveat: Don't worry, Jayme. This post will not be of the long-winded variety. (Yeah, right, I can hear him saying.) Well, at least not as long winded as yesterdays post.I had my first bona fide celebrity sighting today. And what is better, if I could have picked any celebrity, this is the one that I would have chosen!!!Today, I took a trolley tour of Savannah. I thought about just walking around,

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1149385741288176622006-06-03T21:24:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:11:14.301-04:00

Now, whether you pronounce them pe-cons or pee-caans, I have learned one thing in my short time here in Savannah--pecan encrusted anything tastes like heaven. Now, I'm new at this blogging thing, so I'm afraid I will not be as witty as Jayme, or as interesting as Ian, or as authoritative as Chris. However, I have had a thouroughly enjoyable, quite comical day. And besides, who can resist an ode

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1149347467095247342006-06-03T10:44:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:11:54.443-04:00

Let me introduce my guest blogger--my wife Katie. She wanted to title this entry "My Garden is More Prolific than Yours." But, since this is my blog and she is my guest, this entry is called "Ravishing Radishes." Ravishing for her and Radishes for her harvest.It all started with a trip to buy pots at Campbell & Ferrara Nursery in Alexandria, my favorite nursery (http://campbellferrara.com/). (It

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1147823671481455872006-05-16T19:13:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:13:30.676-04:00

Several weeks have passed since I returned from visiting my sister in New York. She calls it "The City." By "The City" I think she means that New York is bigger and better than everywhere else. I think she also calls it "The City" to demean all other cities. San Francisco, for example, is a "cute little town." "Washington D.C. is nice; but its no New York." I like visiting her because she knows

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1145381167572891532006-04-18T13:04:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:14:36.894-04:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I love listening to The Book Show on my iPod. Romana Koval is an excellent interviewer who gives each author time to tell his/her story. But what I like most is exposure to authors who have not published in the U.S. Ironically, this is also what I like least. These books are expensive and difficult to locate.First I discovered Andrey Kurkov, author of Death and

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1145297372874420062006-04-17T13:54:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:15:15.116-04:00

Its that time again. . . the semi-annual Arlington Library Book Sale.When: Friday, April 29, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. (arrive early)Where: Arlington Central LibraryWhy? Cheap books, lots of cheap books.http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/Libraries/Documents/46210406%20sale%20flyer.pdfI learned of the Book Sale from a co-worker. He told me about it last fall, and kindly instructed me to arrive early

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1145296461990505872006-04-17T13:44:00.000-04:002007-04-11T11:15:40.293-04:00

Are you like me? Do you have stacks of books in all corners of your home? Have you ever wanted to catalog your books? Share them with others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Library Thing is for you (http://www.librarything.com/).Library Thing is an online service that anyone can use to catalog their personal library. Because everyone catalogs together, you can also use

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26313854.post-1145285488408486912006-04-17T10:03:00.000-04:002007-02-27T23:56:55.224-05:00

Littera Scripta Manet -- The Written Letter Abides.Writing instructors teach you to "know your audience." I don't know mine, for this is my first foray into the world of weblogs. My simple hope is that my interests correspond to the interests of others--that I can identify the things I enjoy so that someone else can enjoy them too.When thinking about the scope of this blog, I thought about my

Jaymehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17067835821941301067noreply@blogger.com0